The most aggravating part, to me, trying to serve as a taxpayer advocate for all taxpayers, is the sheer greed and nerve of certain politicos.
The part really irking me is this jockeying for more monies for the Council members and our new incoming Mayor, all without public knowledge.
Guess this may be where I come in. At this time, the City Council makes $9,500.00 per year; but the President of the Council receives an additional $50.00 per month ($600.00 extra per year).
Budgets are not until the following year. If you, as elected officials, do not follow the budgetary processes -- why should you get any type of raise?
Maybe government budgeting has changed since I was involved in the Federal end -- BUT I DO NOT THINK SO.
If you wanted raises for one and all, it should have been in this past budget and if not, wait until the next budget process.
The word on the street are ($) dollar signs starting floating in front of a few of their eyes when they saw Jeff's officials' salaries.
The Council is talking from going from $9,500.00 per year to between $12,000.00 or $13,000.00 -- they haven't firmed that part up yet.
The Mayoral salary would like to be increased by some (hmmmm.....) up $8,900.00.
These are my views and opinions on same - just so no one mistakes who's views and opinions they are:
1. Past Budget time; show some restraint and wait until the Budget process, please.
2. Each elected official knew exactly how much money they would be making and I wonder why now it is just not enough without taking more from us?
3. What do you feel as a Council you have achieved in order to deserve such a large raise? Why not a simple 3% like everyone else? Yes, I know you only got 1% under Overton; 1% under Garner -- but I'm not buying into the I feel sorry for you routine.
4. Ditto with the Mayoral salary. Why now? Why not wait until the Budget process?
Just my questions and opinions -- like anyone every answers any type of public questions posed to them...
Peace
Gee, why do we KEEP HAVING TO ASK for the "rules" of order and proper government procedures? Irritating, I tell you, irritating.
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Standard 3% would be fair, as is the case instances.
If they choose to go beyond the 3%, can we as citizens, therefore their employers be promised a equal increase in efficiency?
Isn't there a State Law forbidding salaries to increase? Aren't they only allow to decrease them, like that what ever happen, ha ha ha.
Matter of fact, anon, there are...give me a chance to get to them.
Looks like, well, I agree with the 3%, same as everyone else, but not right now. It's against the law, Indiana law that is.
All this talk about raises for all the politicians in New Albany has just got to be some sort of cruel joke.
After all we've heard about so many departments being hundreds of thousands of dollars in the red and the sewer problems still hanging thick in the air, it is simply sickening to think they all think they deserve a bigger cut of the pie.
C'mon, don't they have any sense of common decency for the public they represent?
We keep getting hit up for more $$$ for this or that, and they want to be paid more for their "work"????
PLEEEEASE!!!
The new incoming elected officials may in for a shock.
In the past, the taxpayers who pay the bills sounded like "whining puppies."
Now, taxpayers are called "watchdog
taxpayers" and they can make a lot of noise as they monitor the actions of the Mayor and City Council Members
to hold down the spending.
i heard jeff gahan is pushing for a retirement package for the council too, new councilmen take heed, you act fiscally irresponsible you will pay the price at the polls in 4 years
As I'm not sure about the retirement package, I have heard Mr. Gahan is behind the raise issue push.
As soon as I can get to them (they are buried, the laws as a few years have passed since they tried this before) -- I'll post same.
INDIANA LAW STATES YOU CAN NOT INCREASE SALARIES FOR EMPLOYEES AFTER YOU HAVE SUBMITTED YOUR BUDGET. YOU CAN ONLY DECREASE THEM.
We didn't write the laws, but I sure wish they'd enforce 'em.
In my opinion, some of the newer Council members need a class in what their "legislative" responsibilities are, real quick -- and I don't think the Social Studies teacher is going to get them there. Wonder why they didn't get a "Civics" teacher? Even that part of the equation doesn't make any sense.
Only my opinions, though. We do have four Council people ready to say no, and I'm willing to bet there is one more. Someone is going to be the "swing" vote on this issue, and I can only hope they do the right thing for taxpayers.
More to come, as soon as I dig through all 12 years of paper work laying around my office, in my hallway, in my gardening room, and scattered throughout my dining room.
The legal documents we have paid for all these years can't possibly be thrown away -- never had the money to buy them in the first place. We simply need to scan all of these documents in (Susan and I), and maybe someone else, as a repository site where no one can comment and only information can be obtained (our City's History).
BTW, this MeeMaw has found out she will not be having that granddaughter; I now know I am having my fourth (4th) grandson.
And, as long as he's healthy, MeeMaw will have another angel to love. No disappointment here, though it would have been nice to have a little girl to dress up cute as a button! My father says my grandsons are so big and solid I am raising my own Calvary.
Be safe out there New Albany; hopefully it won't get any worse than it was earlier today!
Someone should tell the Mayor Elect and the elected Council members that there is a set of encyclopedia
books of
Indiana State Laws called INDIANA CODE. They need to learn these laws that must be followed in INDIANA.
INDIANA CODE: IC 36-4-7-2
Sec. 2.
(b) The city legislative body shall, by ordinance, fix the annual compensation of all elected city officers. The ordinance must be published under IC 5-3-1, with the
first publication at least thirty (30) days before final passage by the legislative body.
(c) The compensation of an elected officer may not be changed in the year for which it is fixed, nor may it be reduced below the amount fixed for the previous year.
Thank you kindly for posting the Law. I could not agree with your position more. Thanks. Yvonne
More discussions behind closed doors, more conspiracy theories, will this diatribe ever end? If the council is discussing a raise, they will bring it to the table and you will have an opportunity to state your case. Why always air negativity, some of which may not even exist, to the world. If someone read this blog, they would think twice about moving here or setting up a business. You and your secret gossiping warmonger’s do us all a huge disservice.
Number 1. Discussions behind closed doors? No, discussions between people.
Number 2. More conspiracy theories? We could only wish, as taxpayers.
Number 3. Will this diatribe ever end? Who knows when you will stop your diatribe. Simply fiscally conservative with the City's (OURS AND MY) money; which seems to not be up YOUR alley.
Number 4. If Council is discussing a raise, state your case then. NO. THIS IS AGAINST INDIANA LAW; AND SOME OF US WON'T LET THE COUNCIL VIOLATE THE LAW.
Number 5. Why always air negativity? Isn't that a matter of perception on your part versus mine? Choosing to watch the cities monies is something I have volunteered for and I simply don't feel it's any of your beeswax whether you agree with my opinions or not (truly). These are facts about the raises being discussed to be put before Council next Thursday and we are having a discussion about it being against the law for them to do so. Is this what your problem truly is? Honestly, the only one which makes sense to me, reading your posting!
You and your secret shenanigans are simply what keep taxpayer advocates in business. Can't understand why anybody would want to save some money and prevent another lawsuit, gee -- must be just downright plain ignorance.
You do all of us a disservice, in my opinion.
Next?
1. How were you made aware of the council's discussions concerning a potential raise?
2. Your question above doesn't make any sense.
3. You haven't been employed since moving here and you don't own property. How are you and yours affected?
4. If there are no discussions "behind closed doors" concerning council raises, which you made public, what are we discussing?
5. I cannot follow you, sorry.
I am not a councilperson so I have no financial involvement. If you care about this City, why don't you find something positive to discuss, volunteer for, or support? I understand you and yours are avid supporters of the Carnegie, do something that will enhance NA.
Speaking untruth’s and backbiting are definitely not the way ahead. Education and honestly are the only way this City will succeed.
1. The word would be respect; respect from Council persons making taxpayer advocates aware of illegal actions trying to be undertaken. Honestly, though, it's none of your business.
2. My question above may not make sense, at least to you. This seems to be something I'm not sure I care if you think it makes any sense or not.
3. As you have no idea if I have been employed since I moved to New Albany (which I have), I have to ask you why you are being so nosy? Why would you care? Ignorance? Also, to your dismay, I do own property...and?
4. Again, another wrong assumption about whether I own "property" and how me and mine are affected. Where do you get off at making such assumptions and why so personal? As you have no clue, there is no rhyme nor reason to this BS.
5. Again, there are no behind closed doors. Unfortunately for you, I guess, there has to be a majority of the Council meeting without public notice -- even at a restaurant...to be a "behind closed doors" meeting or whatever you are trying to get at -- some time of illegality; that much of your attempt I am sure of.
Simply sounds like some type of subterfuge to keep the truth from the taxpayers is the game being played here -- and it isn't going to happen...so sad, so bad.
As to the last paragraph, it even offends my sensibilities.
Unfortunately, again, your facts are wrong. As I do not volunteer for the Carnegie Center, you, again, have no clue as to what volunteerism or organizations or work I have performed for this City. So, you have to know...diatribe...at it's worse. Slander, even.
Maybe you need to get your facts straight and maybe you can make some type of argument as to why the Council should break Indiana Law and why taxpayers should not be talking about this subject.
Until then, adios amigo.
This is unbelievable, this council and mayor have not even taken office and they are talking about a raise!!!!
As someone said earlier our city is in trouble and we need to fix the problems before thinking about giving our elected officials a raise of any kind. They all knew what the salary was before they decided to run for office. Do a good job and the taxpayers will think about a merit raise, just like any other employer.
the eastend pointyheads dont seem to understand that their heroes led by their darling Doug are going to spend money that the city doesnt have. That bunch that ran with him as council newbies are too easily controlled, and Gahan is the leader of the England incumbents who is selling the taxpayers out.
Looks like its time for the fiscal conservatives to start taking the lead now
Well, let's not call anyone any names, if we don't have to.
This is simply a deflection from us, as citizens, keeping the Council from doing an illegal action.
To me it exists as another example of ignorance, and ignorance is not an excuse.
There surely were severe storm water and sewage problems yesterday; but what else is new?
Don't you think someone should ask Doug England to pay back some of his salary from his other 8 years as Mayor. He signed the Consent Decree with EPA and Department of Justice, but didn't fix the sewers and citizens had to pay fines! Not to mention, some people had sewage back up in their homes!!! Perhaps, if he signs a Second Amended Consent Decree, fixes the sewers and proves there is no more reason for EPA oversight, two years after all of that, then he will have earned part of a raise in salary. In the meantime, watch how much money Mayor England will take as benefits for travel, hotel rooms, etc. and/or salary from Economic Development Income Tax monies, city credit cards, etc. Granted the Mayor could recruit businesses and that could mean extra expenses (heaven knows the Mayor should never spend his own money), but dollars spent should show dollars in return.
Susan
I don't think it is at all appropriate for a new administration, and City Council, who, in this case the majority of it's new members are untested, to come into office and make the first order of business giving themselves pay raises. There should be no pay raises considered...for anyone, until needed work is done. For one example, if there is money available to use for anything, use it to start fixing the streets in New Albany. Not just asphalt patching that will be gone at the first rain, but fix them properly. Too many people have had damage to their cars because of sinking streets, and chuckholes. Hope you don't mind, I'm going to continue this on my blog (http://altonsindependentdemocrat.blogspot.com)
can someone explain the pointyhead thing to me??
seriously!
Honestly, ceece, I couldn't or can't decide what it meant; to me simply a deflection from the issue at hand.
This is why I stated I'd rather there was no name calling.
Happy Holidays.
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